Results 1-20 of 1,061 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Earl Attlee

Rail Services: First Capital Connect — Statement (12 Nov 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to the Secretary of State for repeating the Statement made in another place. All noble Lords want to see an industry that is safe and efficient and meets the needs of passengers. I am pleased to say that I have no difficulty in resisting reaching for a long screwdriver and interfering by offering a solution, despite the fact that passengers face misery through no fault...

Road Safety: Electric and Hybrid Vehicles — Question (10 Nov 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, pedestrian accidents are more prevalent in disadvantaged areas. How will the Minister prevent these new vehicles exacerbating this problem?

Armed Forces: Future Defence Policy — Motion to Take Note (6 Nov 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for introducing the debate. I declare an interest as I am a serving TA officer, although nowadays I am not training very much. Nevertheless, the recent cuts have cost me half a day's training. All noble Lords must have been disappointed when the Prime Minister was careless enough to lose the services of the noble Lord, Lord Drayson, to motor racing. He...

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Earl Attlee: Is the Minister saying that my argument was incorrect?

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Earl Attlee: I was making the point that an ordinary business knows that it will have to pay rates on its premises, but the ports, which are in a situation where they did not know that, are very different from ordinary businesses.

Non-Domestic Rating (Deferred Payments) (England) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (14 Oct 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I support the Motion of regret of my noble friend Lord Bates. He reminded your Lordships that I raised this matter by means of a Motion of regret on 18 March this year. I invited your Lordships to support my view that the regulations that were referred to by my noble friend would not prevent port companies from becoming insolvent. In a Division, the House agreed with me, including...

Armed Forces: Parachuting — Question (14 Oct 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, what other key capabilities are being neglected, because I believe that there are many?

Gulf War 1990-91: Nerve Agent Pre-treatment Tablets — Question (13 Oct 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, will the Minister remind the House what are the benefits of nerve agent pre-treatment sets when engaged in chemical warfare or where there is a chemical warfare threat?

Driving Instruction (Suspension and Exemption Powers) Bill: Second Reading (10 Jul 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Tyler, for introducing his Bill and for the careful way in which he explained its purpose and background. Although I shall not repeat his points, I agree with them all. I have an interest to declare as an out-of-date qualified Army driving instructor. I have taught both civilian and military personnel to drive both cars and heavy goods...

Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Bill — Second Reading (10 Jul 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Janner of Braunstone, for introducing the Bill, and for the careful way in which he has explained how it will work. We should all pass our congratulations to Mr Andrew Dismore in another place on piloting it through that House. I have heard nothing today with which I disagree. The one certain way of finding ourselves in another holocaust...

Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) (Amendment) Regulations 2009: Motion of Regret (9 Jul 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Berkeley, for raising this issue today because it is a matter of considerable concern to all noble Lords who have taken part, and what a galaxy of experience they have. Despite recent improvements many are still worried about the efficiency of the GLAs, especially at the centre rather than at the "front line". What is not in doubt is the skill,...

National Express East Coast Franchise — Statement (1 Jul 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to the Secretary of State for making his Statement today. He has explained some of the background and I am sure that noble Lords will be grateful to him. During the Secretary of State's interview with Adam Shaw on the "Today" programme today, he said: "We have tried-and-tested procedures in place for taking over train operations when existing operators are unable to...

Transport: Road and Rail Accidents — Question (22 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, may I join in welcoming the Minister to the world of the Whips' Offices? The Minister will be aware of the availability of laser surveying equipment for road traffic accidents. Is he convinced that the police have enough of it and what requirements do the Home Office and the Department for Transport impose on the police in this regard?

Iraq — Debate (18 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Fowler for introducing this debate. He said that the price was high. It is: the public will never again believe the Prime Minister on a matter of national security I have an interest to declare. I served on Operation TELIC 1 in HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division. I arrived in Kuwait on or about 13 March 2003. I expected to engage in about four weeks...

Kenya: British Army — Question (18 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, does the Minister agree that many of the best wildlife areas in the United Kingdom are MoD training areas?

Public Transport: Cost, Quality and Crime — Debate (11 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I enjoy the Southern railway.

Public Transport: Cost, Quality and Crime — Debate (11 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I, too, am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw, for initiating this wide-ranging debate. Using public transport is a fairly universal experience, especially for those who live or work in a city. There is no realistic alternative other than a pedal cycle or going by foot. I use the train from south London to attend your Lordships' House. I see the chronic overcrowding every day...

Public Transport: Cost, Quality and Crime — Debate (11 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his intervention. I agree with his views about Network Rail, a subject that I shall turn to later. As for the DfT, I do not understand why the department is so heavily involved in the specification of new rolling stock. What can the department do that the industry itself cannot do? The noble Baroness, Lady Valentine, made the very good point that you...

Business Rate Supplements Bill: Report (2nd Day) (9 Jun 2009)

Earl Attlee: My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend Lord Bates for moving his amendment. He referred to the debate that I initiated on this issue when we considered the non-domestic rating legislation. What he forgot to mention was that the House agreed with me and approved my Motion of regret. The amendment is sensible and equitable. It ensures that the costs of errors in the collection of business...

Railways: Network Rail — Question (20 May 2009)

Earl Attlee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to amend the corporate governance arrangements for Network Rail.